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New West sees huge drop in COVID-19 cases

But the number of tests conducted also dropped
fraser health burnaby new west covid-19 coronavirus
The latest Burnaby and New West COVID-19 numbers, as well as other Metro Vancouver cities.

New COVID-19 cases in New Westminster dropped significantly compared to the week before.

The latest data from the BC Centre for Disease Control show New Westminster had a total of 55 cases from Dec. 20-26, compared to 85 new COVID-19 cases during the period of Dec. 13-19 – one fewer than from Dec. 6-12.

That’s just slightly under the 94 cases New West had in all of October and above the 71 cases in September.

Caution has been urged about the drop in cases as the number of tests conducted during this week also dropped.

Dr. Bonnie Henry noted that it is crucial for people to remain vigilant in following health orders, since part of the reason for the drop in numbers has been a similar decline in people seeking COVID tests prior to the holidays - perhaps in an attempt to avoid having to change plans around the Christmas season.

Meanwhile, Henry dropped the hammer on New Year’s Eve celebrations.

B.C. implemented a liquor sales ban from 8 p.m. on Thursday (New Year’s Eve) to 9 a.m. on Friday (New Year’s Day) to reduce alcohol consumption during the late night hours’ celebrations.

Henry said the ban would apply to all alcohol sales from liquor stores and retailers to bars and restaurants, regardless of whether the liquor would be used for on-site or off-site consumption.

“What we’ve seen is people following the rules early in the night, but as they consume more, you see more table-hopping and risky behaviour,” Henry said at a news conference Wednesday called only about 90 minutes ahead of time. “You see more people bending the rules. So for this one night, knowing the temptations facing people, we’ve moved up last call.”

Henry and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix maintained that this ban is a one-time occurrence, although Henry admitted that officials are talking about the COVID transmission risks being posed by holidays like St. Patrick’s Day.

New cases of COVID-19 jumped in New Westminster in November – by far the worst month for the city since the start of the pandemic.

According to the BCCDC, New Westminster has seen 624 COVID-19 cases between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 2020.

When the December numbers come out, the Record will cover that.

  • With files from Chuck Chiang, Glacier Media